Kansas High Court Takes Two Big Appeals

TOPEKA - The Kansas Supreme Court will hear appeals in two major Kansas crime cases next Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, justices will hear from the lawyers representing Roger Valadez' widow, Melanie. She claims defamation claims and an invasion of her privacy did not abate after her husband died. She sued Emmis Communications after their Wichita television station reported Roger Valadez was being named as a prime suspect in the BTK slayings.

Mrs. Valadez's damage award of $1.1 million dollars was reduced to $250,000 before her appeal.

Next Tuesday, January 27th, appeals from Ali Kemp's killer, Benjamin Appleby, will be heard. His lawyers are challenging Appleby's Hard 50 sentence on his capital murder and attempted rape convictions. His laywers say admissions of statements for his trial, along with jury instructions on premeditation, and sentencing errors denied him the right to a fair trial.

Ali Kemp was found murdered nearly 7 years ago, in the pump room of the apartment complex swimming pool in Leawood where she worked as a lifeguard.

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